Overbearing CEO's Contract Love
Chapter 248: Is She More Important Than the Company?

Chapter 248: Is She More Important Than the Company?

Emma Hart had repeatedly visited Damien Sterling’s office only to find it empty every time, and his phone was always unreachable. Damien truly had a knack for vanishing just when issues arose.

At this point, Emma had dismissed all the past instances when Damien had appeared just in the nick of time. That’s just the way it is with women; one mistake can undo countless prior good deeds. This is what they mean by "one fault can overshadow many merits."

Strangely, all the company’s surveillance footage from that day around noon had been deleted, including the minutes before their departure.

Emma found herself at a standstill in proving her innocence.

Hannah Davis, on the other hand, seemed to be making no new progress either, but unlike Emma, she wasn’t panicking and continued to move casually around the office.

Sophia Greenwood stood at the door and hummed disapprovingly, motioning for Hannah Davis to come into her office.

Hannah’s face turned pale; her guilt was evident as she walked towards the office. After all, Hannah had served loyally for many years; surely Sophia wouldn’t be too harsh on her just because of an outsider.

And it wasn’t as if Sophia particularly liked Emma Hart anyway.

"Ms. Greenwood..." Hannah began, her voice uncertain.

Sophia sat in her office chair, her gaze piercing as she scrutinized Hannah, making her feel unsettled and unable to read Sophia’s thoughts.

"Let’s talk about the manuscript," Sophia paused, "Tell me the truth."

Hannah looked visibly uncomfortable and faltered, "What do you mean, Ms. Greenwood? I don’t understand what you’re implying."

Sophia scoffed coldly and fixed her eyes firmly on Hannah. "Hannah Davis, remember who trained you? Do you think I don’t know your design style as well as I know you? A person’s style, like their character, doesn’t just change overnight."

Sophia’s words made Hannah’s face fall. Nervousness crept in. If it weren’t for this opportunity having a direct impact on her potential promotion to vice manager, why would she have done this? She knew that the client company disliked her overly commercial designs, and despite numerous revisions, none seemed right. When she inadvertently saw Emma’s designs, Hannah was not only amazed by Emma’s talent but also tempted by envy.

Now, Sophia was the only one who had caught on. Even without concrete evidence, Sophia’s words alone were convincing enough.

"Ms. Greenwood..." Hannah Davis began, about to explain something when Sophia Greenwood suddenly burst into laughter.

Hannah looked puzzled at Sophia.

Why would Sophia Greenwood give up on such an opportunity to use others to achieve her ends, especially when she’s not directly implicated?

"Don’t be nervous, Hannah. I chose to discuss this in my office rather than expose you during a meeting. What do you think that means?" Sophia’s tone softened significantly.

A realization dawned on Hannah, and she bowed deeply, "Ms. Greenwood, you mentored me. Rest assured, I would never let down the training and responsibilities you’ve entrusted me with. I am ready to support you through thick and thin."

Expressing her loyalty, Hannah saw a smile spread across Sophia’s face, who looked at her warmly. "No need to make it sound so solemn. What’s our relationship like?"

Feeling the tension ease, Hannah relaxed her posture, letting her hands fall to her sides and stepping slightly closer. "Ms. Greenwood, I’ve just been too anxious about getting promoted..."

Sophia smiled, understanding the underlying pressures. "How could I not understand the hardships? Everyone strives for money—it’s natural. I understand your feelings, though I’ve never lived through such experiences myself."

As Hannah prepared to leave, she said, "If there’s nothing else, I’ll get back to my tasks, Ms. Greenwood."

Sophia nodded, murmuring softly as Hannah walked away, "If you’re going to do something, make sure it’s thorough and clean."

Hannah paused, turned with a smile, and responded, "Thank you for the reminder, Ms. Greenwood."

Sophia placed a finger to her lips, signaling secrecy. "I haven’t reminded you of anything."

This affair involved Emma Hart, and Sophia wanted to distance herself to avoid any blame from Damien Sterling that might implicate her. Now that someone was willing to take action on her behalf, she was ready to quietly encourage it but was cautious to keep herself out of trouble.

Relieved as she left Sophia’s office, Hannah felt a weight lift off her shoulders. As long as no further evidence came from Emma’s side, this matter would likely settle down.

Emma Hart sat at her computer desk, deep in thought, trying to find a breakthrough in her current predicament. Despite racking her brain, she couldn’t find a solution. If only she had heeded Amelia Davidson’s repeated warnings to secure her computer with a password, perhaps the subsequent events wouldn’t have unfolded. Regretting now was futile.

Her fingers tapped incessantly on the desk, a clear sign of her growing anxiety. Adding to her distress was the man who seemed to have disappeared without a trace. Despite sending several messages, there was no response from him.

Meanwhile, on the highway, a black luxury sedan cruised smoothly. The spacious interior offered none of the claustrophobia of smaller spaces.

Beside the man, an assistant handed over a coffee while updating on the company’s affairs.

The man rested with his eyes closed, his mind far from relaxed, memorizing every detail the assistant relayed, his brow occasionally furrowing.

After the assistant finished detailing work-related issues, he cautiously mentioned, "Mr. Sterling, Miss Emma has called you several times."

Upon hearing this, the man slowly opened his tired eyes. He had traveled across several cities in just one day, driven by a longing for Emma’s every smile and frown. Though sometimes she appeared somewhat naive, every gesture of Emma Hart caught Damien Sterling’s attention.

"What’s wrong with her?" he asked, furrowing his brow. It was unusual for Emma to call so frequently unless it was something urgent. Damien’s recent preoccupation had led him to neglect her somewhat.

"Miss Emma has encountered some issues at work," the assistant informed.

At this, Damien sat up straight, grabbed his phone, and saw the missed calls from Emma. He dialed her number immediately, but no one answered.

Clutching his phone tightly, Damien’s assistant reassured him, "Miss Emma is physically safe; it’s just a work-related issue."

Relieved that Emma was safe, Damien’s expression softened, but he commanded coldly, "From now on, report her calls immediately."

"Yes, President," the assistant responded cautiously, now fully aware that any matter concerning Emma Hart could not be delayed. This was especially evident as the president, usually detached during reports about the company, showed visible concern and tension only when it came to Emma.

Could it be that Emma Hart was more important than the company itself?